Los Angeles, United States.- Drummer Fred White, one of the first members of the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, has died at the age of 67, his brother and his former group announced Monday.
Born in 1955 in Chicago, White began playing drums at an early age and won six Grammy Awards with the funk band, founded in 1969 by his late brother Maurice White.
“Our family is saddened today by the loss of an incredibly talented member,” Verdine, the eldest of the White brothers, wrote in a post on Instagram.
“Sheltered child, original member of EWF, with gold records at the young age of 16!” Added the former member of the group.
Earth, Wind & Fire rose rapidly to fame in the ’70s, becoming one of the first bands to break the racial barrier in pop music by gaining a white fan base while continuing to succeed in the African-American community.
As part of the Earth, Wind & Fire group, Fred White was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
